Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) is a stimulating narcotic grown mainly in East and Southern Africa. The plant has a long history as a popular social behavior within these regions, and its active ingredient, cathinone, has been thought to cause an array of physical, psychological, and mental health complications. In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as an illicit substance due to the potential for psychological dependence. Subsequent investigations have found that its regular consumption can negatively impact the human central nervous system (CNS), systemic blood pressure, genitourinary system, and psychological health. This narrative review aims to discuss the reproductive toxicity and sexual dysfunction (SD) caused by regular khat usage in humans and experimental animals. Animal studies found dose-dependent impacts on male reproductive health: low levels increased testosterone production, whereas high levels had the opposite effects. Moderate intake was associated with reduced luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and heightened cortisol in blood plasma. In human studies, chronic users had dramatically lower semen volume, sperm motility, and count, as well as reduced libido or erectile dysfunction (ED). Khat can have serious implications for male fertility and sexual health: therefore, better understanding of its effects is paramount. This article aims to review the toxic effects on the male reproductive and sexual health of chewing the psychostimulant, Catha edulis (khat).

Background: Limb amputation is a life-altering event with substantial physical, psychological, and social consequences. Despite advances in healthcare, amputation remains a major global health concern, particularly in regions with high burdens of diabetes and vascular disease. This study aims to analyze demographic characteristics, etiologies, and trends in amputations over a ten-year period at a tertiary-care center. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who underwent amputation at our tertiary-care hospital. Collected variables included patients’ demographics, etiology, level of amputation, type of admission, and surgical specialty involved. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Associations between categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square tests, with post hoc pairwise comparisons adjusted using the Bonferroni method where applicable. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 26.0. Results: A total of 647 patients underwent amputation, with a mean age of 56 years and a male predominance (65%). Diabetic complications were the leading cause (67.7%), followed by trauma (11.7%) and vascular diseases (11.6%). Lower limb amputations were more prevalent, with toe amputations being the most frequent (39%). Emergency procedures accounted for 72% of cases, and vascular surgery was the most involved specialty, followed by orthopedic surgery. Conclusions: Our study highlights a substantial burden of amputations, predominantly involving the lower limb, as well as a significant association with diabetic complications. These findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated diabetic care, early interventions, and public health strategies to reduce the burden of amputations in Saudi Arabia.

Background/Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome is prevalent in the general population. This study investigates the association between dietary intake and irritable bowel syndrome in medical college students at King Saud University besides its prevalence. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study of 426 students (271 males and 155 females, age 21.21 ± 1.58 years) from 5 academic levels of King Saud University Medical College. A self-reported questionnaire for Rome IV criteria was completed by each participant. They also filled out a food frequency questionnaire to assess their nutritional intake. Results: The overall prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome was 17.8% without correlation to age and academic year in Medical School. However, the prevalence was higher in females than in males (40/115 vs. 36/235, P = .001). The irritable bowel syndrome group consumed significantly more energy, carbohydrates, and saturated fatty acids, while the non-irritable bowel syndrome group consumed significantly more fibers and niacin (P < .001 and P = .005, respectively). Conclusion: About 17.8% of medical students had irritable bowel syndrome with a greater prevalence in females. The irritable bowel syndrome group consumed significantly more energy, carbohydrates, and saturated fatty acids, while the non-irritable bowel syndrome group consumed significantly more fibers and niacin. Our results did not show any significant association between irritable bowel syndrome and fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol intake. Overall, both groups were not adhering to the Saudi dietary recommended intake. Cite this article as: Mujamammi AH, Al-Hamdan R, Sabi EM, et al. The relevance of food constituents to the irritable bowel syndrome: A Rome IV-based prevalence study among medical students. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2023;34(8):859-865.

The ultimate goal of arthroplasty is thought to be the ability to “forget” a joint implant in daily activities. The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12), a score system that evaluates how much patients have been able to forget their hip or knee prosthesis, was recently published. It is based on a self-administered questionnaire that consists of 12 items. The major goal of the current study was to validate, adapt, and evaluate a Arabic-language FJS-12 (Ar-FJS-12) version in patients who had undergone total hip replacement (THA). The study included 107 patients who underwent THA 1–5 years ago and completed the Ar-FJS. The construct validity of the study was evaluated using the reduced Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (rWOMAC). To assess the test-retest reliability, 72 people took the Ar-FJS test twice. Cronbach’s alpha (Internal Consistency) of the Ar-FJS-12 was 0.957 and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.931 indicating high reliability. For construct validity, there was a moderate significant correlation between the Arabic the rWOMAC with r = 0.595. The ceiling effect was 1.9% (n = 2), whereas the floor effect was 1.9% (n = 2). The Arabic version of the FJS-12 valid, reliable tool and can be recommended for patients in Arabic-speaking communities who have undergone hip arthroplasty. III, validity and reliability study.